location services

[lin317]

So completely disappointed with this latest app update. I never have my location turned on, it drains the phone battery! Why do they require this just to sync my device to my phone?!!! I am sure I am not the only one annoyed by this. Please, Fitbit, change this back ASAP!

[shipo]

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@KrisHOK wrote:
A year old, not old enough for that


Sent from my Sprint Samsung Galaxy S7.

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Something is very wrong with your phone, I retired a four year old Moto X last spring and it would still go two days with location services running 24x7.

[saminmt]

That's what I'm doing now - I turn my phone on, synch and turn it off again once a day. What a pain.

[saminmt]

Yes. I now turn on location, synch my fitbit, and turn location back off once a day. What a pain.

[Rich_Laue]

The location services being will not drain your battery, what could is all the apps and web sites thatvask for the users location. Turning the services off, or revoking tyr access to location will plsyop the apps from asking.

[Ctfb]

How is this an acceptable solution? You've got my email, you've got the ability to grab or embed  an address in the tracker itself. Using location services to access my phone and information is superfluous. Please submit this as a defect to your development team ASAP. 

This is a bug - regardless of how you are using the information, I don't want to give it to you if I don't have to. I absolutely love the product, but this is not an acceptable methodology/practice.

[shipo]

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@Ctfb wrote:

How is this an acceptable solution? You've got my email, you've got the ability to grab or embed  an address in the tracker itself. Using location services to access my phone and information is superfluous. Please submit this as a defect to your development team ASAP. 

This is a bug - regardless of how you are using the information, I don't want to give it to you if I don't have to. I absolutely love the product, but this is not an acceptable methodology/practice.

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Please understand, this is NOT a Fitbit bug, this is a requirement of Android 6.0 and later systems for all Android phones.  If you hop over to the Garmin forums you'll see they're grappling with the issue as well.

[Rich_Laue]

@Ctfb the tracker does have an address embedded into it.. It is called the Bluetooth IP and if Fitbit wants to see the IP address of the track r the location services need to be on.. Note I did not say. Any app needs to or even asks for the location.. This is the same for Garmon and almost every other tracker on the market along with several other devices. 

[Username654]

My JVC car stereo does not require location services. My iHome Bluetooth speaker does not require location services. My son's Wowwee Mip robot does not require remote services. And I leave it off because it drains the battery on my phone! Does Fitbit have any intention to fix this? If not, I will be returning to Amazon within two weeks.

[SilviaFitbit]

Hey there @Username654! Thanks for your feedback about turning on location services, with this latest update, Google changed the permissions for Bluetooth syncing, requiring the use of location services. For more information about the latest Google permission requirements, see Google’s Android 6.0 Changes document here: https://developer.android.com/about/versions/marshmallow/android-6.0-changes.html#behavior-hardware-.... Fitbit is hard at work trying to find a work around for this new change from Google to ensure you can sync your tracker. 

Your understanding is truly appreciated. 

[Rich_Laue]

That is true @Username654 but none of the devices you regret to use Bluetooth low energy and they only connect to the phone. 

Your Fitbit tracker during a sync connects to your Fitbit account in the cloud. The Fitbit server needs to know which account to connect your Fitbit too, this identification Google says now needs location services. Your location is never requested. 

This change was made to close a fapping hole in the Bluetooth security of your device. 

[Johngowron]

Seems this is the only way fitbit has to ID you. If fitbit would ask for an id upon setup then it would know who you are. It just wants to be sure it is not being spoofed. Something they should work on.

I realize that the memory onboard is limited.

How about you enter a number and it is stored on your unit and the device you sync with. Just a thought.

Moderator edit: removed personal information

[Johngowron]

I turn on location, do a sync, then turn it of. Using a Samsung tablet tab  A

[Rich_Laue]

As for having a unique bomber assigned and stored on on the tracker, why not post a suggestion on the feature request board @Johngowron? As explained above, along many other sites on the Internet, including many of fitbit's competition and on dev.Android.com. 

Android requires, not Fitbit, that location services to be on, there is no request asking for location this is not the same thing, when an app requests the Bluetooth MAC address of a connected device. Fitbit uses this to identify the tracker, then uses a lookup table to identify the account number associated with this particular tracker. During a sync there never is a check to see who the user is. 

Notice that 14 minutes ago my tracker synced 

 Notice that Fitbit is not on the list of recent requests. 

[Johngowron]

Thanks for this
I knew the device needed a way to recognise the device so that also is why
the Wi-Fi is required i guess
Its been a lot of years since i left the tech industry as an analyst and
tech.
I started when Microsoft introduced windows 3.11 (im 77)

John Gowron DTM
Distinguished Toastmaster
Today only happens once... don't waste it!
Sent from my Samsung tab A tablet

[Miabelissima]

Hi Silvia,

Are there any updates on this? Would like to know if Fitbit could find a way around the requirement to enable location service to sync.

Thank you

Mirka

[Rich_Laue]

Unless Fitbit wants to completely change and rewrite the Fitbit apps, Fitbit connect and there server software, I doubt anything will change @Miabelissima

Please remember that Android made thus change to close an open exploit that occurred whenever an app like Fitbit requested a Bluetooth MAC address.

Even though location services now is enabled, your syncing is more secure than it was on Android V5.

Having ng location services on simply means that when an app requests the location, if you have given permission, will be able to receive the location. Having location services on does not mean that the location will be requested.

@Johngowron wifi is not required, cellular internet is fine. 

[Miabelissima]

That's exactly what I want @Rich_Laue. There are  a lot of people who won't even buy a fitbit if they have an android or are thinking of returning it (as I am) due to this battery draining feature. I would think if a company misses out on millions in revenue that would trigger them to do exactly that - change the way they sync.

I'm also very aware that this is due to a change android made hence I've contaced them as well. But if Google don't change this to resolve the issue, it's up to fitbit to provide a better service.

Having the location service on does drain your battery. If you have any tips to improve the battery life to last at least a day while having location service on, I would love to hear them. Thanks

[Rich_Laue]

Having location service on does not drain the battery.

Having app access your location will drain the battery.

Turning location services off is like turning the main power switch off to the house everytime you don't want to use electricity would it not be easier to simply turn off the individual lights and appliances that you want off?

In the same way, Android allows for the user to control the permissions for each individual app.

Currently I know that Garmin along with one model scale and some various other inline conbected devices that need location services to sync their data.

As for Fitbit changing, probably not lijely, it would mean that Fitbit connect or the connect option in the Fitbit app would not be able to sync every tracker that it might be able to find.

It also would mean that a parent would not be able to sync their child's Fitbit.

I assume that you are one of the 28 people who have let the fitbit developers  know by voting for this suggestion. 

Android sync without "enabling location

[FBNL]

Totally agree. I'm furious.

[Rich_Laue]

Have you contacted the developers of Android, @FBNL 

Most of fitbits competition, because of changes made in A android vet 6, now require location services to be enabled. 

I could not setup my smart light bulb with out enabling this. 

BTW android is at ver 10